Morgan - Maltese Dog for Adoption in Syracuse, New York

Meet Morgan

Sometimes the dogs who arrive in the saddest condition end up stealing your heart the fastest.

Morgan is an adorable 3-year-old, approximately 12-pound Maltese mix (or at least that's our best guess!) who was found abandoned in another city, hiding under a stranger's carport for shelter. His little body was filthy, his coat was severely overgrown and matted, and he was painfully underweight. He was so pitiful that there was simply no way we could turn our backs on him...and we are so incredibly thankful we didn't.

Today, after a much-needed grooming, this little guy is absolutely stunning. While we don't know his exact breed, one thing is certain—he is absolutely precious. He currently weighs around 12 pounds, but he's still working on gaining a little more weight. When he first arrived, you could easily feel his hip bones and see his spine. Thankfully, he's enjoying regular meals and lots of love, and we'll continue updating his progress as he fills out.

Morgan is heartworm negative, neutered, current on vaccines, and up to date on heartworm and flea prevention.

There is one thing we'd like potential adopters to know about Morgan. After having him in foster care, we noticed that every morning while all of the other dogs were barking and excited to start their day, Morgan would still be sound asleep. More than once, he startled us because he slept so deeply that we thought something was wrong. As we got to know him better, we began realizing he wasn't responding to sounds at all.

Our veterinarian examined him and, while they couldn't perform specialized hearing testing, they did their own evaluations and also noticed that the structures inside his ears are unusually small for a dog his size. Their conclusion is that Morgan is most likely deaf.

Now here's the wonderful part...

Morgan has absolutely no idea that he's any different.

He is one of the happiest, funniest, most affectionate little dogs we've ever fostered. He follows his people everywhere once he feels safe, loves curling up in your lap for snuggles, and has enough personality to keep everyone laughing.

In fact, Morgan has officially declared himself King of the House. He struts around like he's ten feet tall, occasionally reminding the other dogs who's boss. Thankfully, it's all confidence and very little drama. He gets along wonderfully with the other dogs and is easily redirected if he gets a little too full of himself.

His deafness doesn't hold him back in the slightest. He quickly learns routines, watches his people closely for guidance, and navigates life with confidence. Rather than thinking of Morgan as a dog with special needs, we simply think of him as a dog who experiences the world a little differently. IT IS BEST IF THERE IS PHYSICALLY FENCED YARD FOR MORGAN.

Morgan is exceptionally clean in his crate, walks beautifully on a leash, and has done wonderfully with my respectful 8-year-old. We believe he'd thrive in a patient, loving home that will give him a little time to settle in and build trust. Once he does, you'll have a loyal shadow who wants nothing more than to be close to his people.

If you're looking for a tiny companion with a huge heart, endless personality, and enough love to last a lifetime, Morgan may just be your perfect match.

Sometimes the best dogs are the ones the world almost overlooked.

The Maltese is a small toy breed known for its glamorous white coat, which is long, silky, and virtually hypoallergenic. They are gentle, affectionate companion dogs that thrive on human companionship and make wonderful family pets. Maltese dogs are playful, intelligent, and alert, with a confident demeanor despite their small size. They require regular grooming to maintain their luxurious coat and are suitable for apartment living due to their size and adaptability.

Our mission is to try to keep dogs out of shelters as well as rescue dogs that have found themselves...